Chris Barlow
Chris is a USA Canoe Kayak Olympian competing in 1992 in the 1000m K4, he continues to race today in surf ski races and at Sprint National Championships. However his true passion is coaching the young athletes on the San Diego Canoe Kayak Team (SDCKT). He has been the Head Coach and Founder of SDCKT since its inception in 1996, but also has National and International Coaching experience as an Assistant Coach at the 2009 Junior World Championships in Moscow, Assistant Coach at the USA Fall Kayak Camps OTC Chula Vista in '07, '08, '09 and an Assistant Coach at Lake Placid International July '09 and '10. Most recently Chris was named Head Coach of the USA Junior National Team for the 2010 Pan American Championships in Mexico City. Chris has been a Director with the Sprint Coaches Association since its formation in 2007. Chris is certified High Performance One with the USA Canoe Kayak Coaching Education Program.
Heather Fenske
Heather Fenske came to SDCKT to learn how to surf ski. Her athletic background is in water polo; she played 4 years for San Diego State University as a goalie. While with SDSU Heather helped lead the Aztecs to top finishes at NCAA Championships.
Heather worked as a seasonal ocean Lifeguard for the City of San Diego as a Junior Lifeguard instructor and an avid competitor at Life Saving competitions. After a few lessons with Coach Barlow and Coach Zimmer, Heather joined SDCKT as a volunteer
SUP coach and competed with SDCKT at the SoCal winter race series in both surf ski and SUP. Heather is now an assistant Canoe/Kayak/SUP for SDCKT and is working towards her USA Canoe/Kayak "Coach" level certification. Heather enjoys coaching because she likes to help young athletes grow into confident and strong young adults. She likes coaching with SDCKT because its a fantastic organization with drive, dedication, and an overwhelming sense of Ohana!
Heather worked as a seasonal ocean Lifeguard for the City of San Diego as a Junior Lifeguard instructor and an avid competitor at Life Saving competitions. After a few lessons with Coach Barlow and Coach Zimmer, Heather joined SDCKT as a volunteer
SUP coach and competed with SDCKT at the SoCal winter race series in both surf ski and SUP. Heather is now an assistant Canoe/Kayak/SUP for SDCKT and is working towards her USA Canoe/Kayak "Coach" level certification. Heather enjoys coaching because she likes to help young athletes grow into confident and strong young adults. She likes coaching with SDCKT because its a fantastic organization with drive, dedication, and an overwhelming sense of Ohana!
Maggie Hogan
Maggie Hogan has been on the US National Team in Sprint Kayak since 2005. Maggie qualified for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as a Training Partner and now she is training for the 2012 London Games. She has won medals at World Cups and Pan Ams in 2006 and 2010 and has been on on four World Championship Teams for Surf Lifesaving. Maggie just started racing SUP for O'Hana Paddleboards.This is Maggie's second year as a kayak coach. She has been certified as a "Coach" through USA Canoe Kayak and has just achieved the certification as a "High Performance One Coach." When asked about coaching Maggie states "I love coaching because it offers a positive way for me to give back to the sport, and I get to help the most important people...the next generation of USA Kayakers!" Maggie's goal as a coach is to help SDCKT athletes with their technique. "If you can learn good technique, the rest of the puzzle will fall into place, good technique is the foundation to world class paddling" ! Maggie Coaches for SDCKT "because the kids (and parents) are AWESOME! And it's also the club were I got my start".
Keith Keillor
Keith Keillor has been Paddling outriggers, surfskis and kayaks for many, many years, 52 to be exact. He has been coaching for 50 yrs. He is working on his Coach Level Certification with USA Canoe Kayak. About Coaching Keith states "I just like to teach and see people paddle correctly and see young paddlers enjoy the sport". When asked why Keith coaches he replies "Why? I just like working with kids of all ages 6 to 66! " "My rewards are seeing the kids smile, getting their thanks after a good session, knowing they are interested by asking questions, when out on the water having them challenge me to a sprint, even having them smoke me, that shows me that we are all doing a good job"! Keith makes the Valhalla Surfski and is a huge help to everyone at SDCKT when it comes to boat repairs!
Chris Swan
Chris Swan Transitioned to Kayaking in 1997 after retiring from the US Rowing team and has been Kayaking & Dragon boating for the last 13 years. Chris has raced on 4 USA Dragon Boat National teams and is a 7 time world champion. Chris was a member of the 1992 and the 1996 USA Olympic Rowing Team.Chris recently completed USA Canoe Kayak "Coach" Certification and is a self taught nutritionist. When asked why Chris likes to coach he replies...." I love to coach because it gives me a chance to work with the next generation of athletes, which is the future of our sport and a critical component for a healthy society. I coach for SDCKT because its an amazing organization of like minded, motivated and compassionate parents who want the best for their kids and families." Chris is also the President of the SDCKT Board of Directors, serves on the Board of the Crew Classic and volunteers with the New Haven Boys School.
Michael Holmes
Mike Holmes has been Kayaking and Canoeing for about 7 years total, with the last 5 as a member of SDCKT. He has been to 3 USA Canoe Kayak National Championships, where he has won medals in C2 with partner Ryan Passen after learning how to high kneel Canoe about 2 and 1/2 years ago. He has completed the USA Canoe Kayak "Coach" level certification and was instrumental in SDCKT's success at the OKC National Championships with the Team's first women's Canoe medals. When asked why do you like to Coach, Mike answers "I enjoy coaching because it allows me to teach the basic skills that paddlers will add to later on in their careers." Mikes coaching career with SDCKT started when he was asked by Head Coach Chris Barlow to help expand the Canoe team.
Cris Dobrosielski
Cris has been involved in Surf Life Saving competition since 1986 and is a 4 time National Champion. In 2005 he started kayaking and also began racing the International Ironman. Cris is a certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, a certified Personal Trainer and a certified Massage Technician. He has been the Head Strength and conditioning Coach for Francis Parker CIF Champion Women's Soccer, the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach UCSD, Women's Basketball, Mens and Women's distance track and field, Mens and Women's Cross Country, Women's Softball, Head Track/Head Cross Country Coach Cuyamaca Community College, Head Cross Country Coach Lincoln High School, Head Conditioning Coach San Diego Flash, Mens professional soccer, Head Conditioning Coach CIF Champion La Jolla High School Women's Soccer. Cris feels that "athletics/physical fitness are fantastic arenas to develop confidence, manage stress and lay the foundation for solid life long work ethics." Cris enjoys coaching with SDCKT because it "fosters a high quality, high integrity team concept and is a perfect way for me to encourage and help the next generation of water-men and water-women enjoy the sea and enjoy life". Cris is currently writing a book aimed at helping aging athletes continue playing the sports they love while decreasing the number of injuries along the way. The book is called “The 5 Pillars of Life Long Fitness. ”Check out Cris' website at:- www.MonumentalResults.com
Scott Shoemaker
SCOTT SHOEMAKER is a 44 yo Orthopedic surgeon with 4 children all of whom SUP - Amanda 16, Kate 15, Sydney 13 and Jack 9. Scott started his Coaching career as Windsurfing instructor in Santa Rosa, Ca was on the Varsity Sailing Team at Stanford University. Scott obtained a Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Dallas, Tx and is now a pediatric orthopedic surgeon on the trauma team at Kaiser Permanente, San Diego.
Scott learned Standup surfing in 2007 and started racing SUP the same year. In 2008 Scott raced in the SUP Chainsaw Masacre 6 mile race and Placed 2nd at the Butch Van Artsdalen Paddle Competition. In 2010 Scott was 1st in the SUP Bay-to-Bay 20 mile race and 6th in the SUP Battle of the Paddle, California. At the Hennesey's International Championship in 2010 Scott was 3rd. Scott learned Surfski in Auckland, New Zealand and also enjoy's surfing, swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, triathlon, golf, mountain biking and is currently ranked 4th in the World Paddling Association's Unlimited SUP division.
Scott learned Standup surfing in 2007 and started racing SUP the same year. In 2008 Scott raced in the SUP Chainsaw Masacre 6 mile race and Placed 2nd at the Butch Van Artsdalen Paddle Competition. In 2010 Scott was 1st in the SUP Bay-to-Bay 20 mile race and 6th in the SUP Battle of the Paddle, California. At the Hennesey's International Championship in 2010 Scott was 3rd. Scott learned Surfski in Auckland, New Zealand and also enjoy's surfing, swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, triathlon, golf, mountain biking and is currently ranked 4th in the World Paddling Association's Unlimited SUP division.
Ken Austed
Ken Austed has been been paddling surfski and paddleboards for approximately 4 years and he started SUP approx 2 yrs ago after Mitch (Mitch’s Surf Shop) lured him in by giving him some free board time. Ken has been the Lead Coach for the San Diego Canoe Kayak Team's development program with assistance from Jim Williams for over a year. When asked "why do you like to Coach?" Ken answers... "I really enjoy watching the beginners who could initially barely sit in a kayak and had minimal confidence change within a few months to kids that are moving up to the racing team and are brimming with confidence and swagger." The coaches goals for the development team "are to make sure the kids have fun on the water and stay engaged". Ken Coaches for SDCKT because It gives him an opportunity to "give something back to the community and be involved with a bunch of great folks."
Jim Williams
Jim Williams is an avid cyclist and life long active guy who has been paddling surf skis for the past 5 years. Prior to that he paddled white water kayaks and sea kayaks for 10 years. Jim has been helping Ken with the development team, coaching the youngest kids in paddling techniques, boat handling skills, self rescue and how to race. Jim loves to coach because... "It is fun giving back to the sport and watching young paddlers develop their skills." Jim coaches for SDCKT because he enjoys... "assisting the paddling community and watching the kids as they advance as paddlers and young athletes." Jim also likes to see the competition develop among the paddlers whether they are learning how to race or chasing a frisbe, a ball or playing "beat the coach".
Adan Spahn
Adan's oceanic expertise has been shaped by 9 years of lifeguard service for the City of San Diego, which included 2 years as an instructor for the Junior Lifeguard program. As an instructor, he helped children to gain confidence in the water and refine their natural talents. Adan started competing on the national level as a Junior Lifeguard at the age of 9 and at one point was ranked number two nationally for distance prone paddling. Adan went through the ranks as a Junior Lifeguard and had both Coach Barlow and Coach Dobrosielski as his instructors. As a well-rounded waterman he continues to compete in the lifeguard relays as a paddler and has taken up SUP surfing as well as racing. He has travelled internationally for surfing and is currently training for the 2011 season of SUP racing. We look forward to seeing his progress as the year unfolds. Adan has joined SDCKT as a SUP Junior Racing and Development Team Coach
